U.S. patent number 6,116,044 [Application Number 09/300,407] was granted by the patent office on 2000-09-12 for air chute adapter for refrigeration vehicles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aero Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Richard J. Gothier.
United States Patent |
6,116,044 |
Gothier |
September 12, 2000 |
Air chute adapter for refrigeration vehicles
Abstract
An adapter arrangement is provided for connecting the inlet
opening of a cold air distribution chute with the cold air
discharge opening of a refrigeration unit that is mounted in a
opening contained in the front wall of the body of a refrigeration
vehicle, characterized in that the forward portion of the chute is
collapsed upwardly upon the application of a vertical force
thereto, thereby to prevent tearing or damage of the chute. The
bottom edge of the chute inlet opening is connected with a weighted
horizontal rod or bar that is guided for vertical sliding movement
on vertical guide rods that are mounted by brackets on opposite
sides of the cold air discharge opening of the refrigeration unit.
Each end of the horizontal rod is connected with the associated
guide rod by a connecting member that is telescopically slidably
connected with the rod.
Inventors: |
Gothier; Richard J. (Mesa,
AZ) |
Assignee: |
Aero Industries, Inc.
(Indianapolis, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
23158972 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/300,407 |
Filed: |
April 27, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/407; 454/118;
454/91; 62/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/20 (20130101); F25D 19/003 (20130101); B65D
88/745 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
3/20 (20060101); B65D 88/74 (20060101); B65D
88/00 (20060101); F25D 19/00 (20060101); F25D
017/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/239,407
;454/91,118 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"Adapters," Aero Industries, Inc., brochure of 1993 (for Thermo
King and Carrier Refrigeration Units). .
"Carrier Adapters," Aero Industries, Inc., brochured of 1993 (for
Carrier Phoenix Advantage, Phoenix Ultra and Thunderbird. .
"Aero Industries The Leader in Refrigeration Products," brochure of
1995..
|
Primary Examiner: Doerrler; William
Assistant Examiner: Shulman; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Laubscher & Laubscher
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Adapter means for connecting the inlet opening of a flexible
cold air distribution chute arranged within the body of a
refrigeration vehicle with the cold air discharge opening of a
refrigeration unit that is externally mounted on the vertical front
wall of the refrigeration vehicle body and extends through an
opening contained in the front wall, the refrigeration unit
including an outlet opening that communicates with the interior of
the refrigeration body, comprising:
(a) a pair of vertical guide members;
(b) means for connecting said vertical guide members with the
interior surface of the refrigeration body front wall on opposite
sides of the refrigeration unit discharge opening;
(c) an elongated horizontally-arranged weight member extending
between said vertical guide members;
(d) a pair of connecting means connecting the ends of said weight
member for vertical movement relative to said guide means, each of
said connecting means including a connecting member that is
connected for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said
horizontal weight member; and
(e) means for connecting the chute inlet opening concentrically
about said refrigeration unit discharge opening, said chute inlet
opening connecting means including means for connecting the lower
portion of said the chute inlet opening with said horizontal weight
member, whereby upon the application of an upwardly-directed force
upon the lower surface of the chute adjacent the chute inlet
opening, the horizontal weight bar and the adjacent portions of the
chute are displaced upwardly relative to said vertical guide
means.
2. Adapter means as defined in claim 1, wherein at least the end
portions said horizontal weight member are hollow and extend
through a folded seam formed in the bottom portion of the chute
inlet opening, said connecting members including adjacent linear
first end portions that are telescopically slidably mounted in
opposite ends of said weight member.
3. Adapter means as defined in claim 2, wherein said connecting
members have remote second ends that contain apertures that
slidably receive said vertical guide members.
4. Adapter means as defined in claim 3, wherein said connecting
member second ends comprise eye means.
5. Adapter means as defined in claim 4, wherein said vertical guide
means comprise a pair of guide rods that extend through said
apertures contained in said connecting members, respectively.
6. Adapter means as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertical guide
means comprise a pair of guide rods; and further including a pair
of mounting brackets supporting said guide rods, respectively.
7. Adapter means as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said
mounting brackets includes a pair of vertically spaced horizontal
tab portions containing aligned openings receiving the ends of the
associated one of said guide rods, respectively, and removable
cotter pin means cooperating with corresponding openings contained
in the upper and lower extremities of said guide rods for
preventing vertical displacement of said guide rods relative to
said mounting bracket, respectively.
8. Cold air distribution means for distributing cold air throughout
the interior of a refrigeration vehicle body from the discharge
opening of a refrigeration unit mounted in an opening contained in
the vertical front wall of the body, comprising:
(a) a cold air distribution chute formed of a flexible material and
having an inlet opening and a plurality of outlet openings;
(b) means for mounting said distribution chute on the interior
surface of the top wall of the refrigeration body with said chute
inlet opening being arranged adjacent the body front wall, and with
said outlet openings being arranged in longitudinally spaced
relation relative to said refrigeration body; and
(c) adapter means for connecting said chute opening with the front
wall concentrically about the refrigeration unit discharge opening,
including:
(1) a pair of vertical guide members;
(2) means for connecting said vertical guide members with the
interior surface of the refrigeration body front wall on opposite
sides of the refrigeration unit discharge opening;
(3) a horizontal weight member extending between said vertical
guide members;
(4) a pair of connecting means connecting the ends of said weight
member for vertical movement relative to said guide means, each of
said connecting means including a connecting member that is
connected for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said
horizontal weight member; and
(5) means for connecting said chute inlet opening concentrically
about said refrigeration unit discharge opening, said chute inlet
opening connecting means including means for connecting the lower
portion of said the chute inlet opening with said horizontal weight
member, whereby upon the application of an upwardly-directed force
upon the lower surface of said chute adjacent said chute inlet
opening, the horizontal weight bar and the adjacent portions of the
chute are displaced upwardly relative to said vertical guide
means.
9. Cold air distribution means as defined in claim 8, wherein said
weight member comprises a hollow rod.
10. Cold air distribution means as defined in claim 9, wherein said
chute opening has a bottom edge portion that includes a
reversely-folded seam which defines a through passage, said hollow
rod extending through said passage.
11. Adapter means as defined in claim 10, wherein the remote ends
of the connecting members contain apertures that slidably receive
said vertical guide members.
12. Adapter means as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said
connecting member remote ends comprise eye means.
13. Adapter means as defined in claim 12, wherein said vertical
guide means comprise a pair of guide rods that extend through the
apertures contained in said eye means, respectively.
14. Adapter means as defined in claim 13, wherein said vertical
guide means comprise a pair of guide rods; and further including a
pair of mounting brackets supporting said guide rods, respectively,
and means for securing said mounting brackets with the body front
wall.
15. Adapter means as defined in claim 14, wherein each of said
bracket means includes a pair of vertically spaced horizontal tab
portions containing aligned openings receiving the ends of the
associated one of said guide rods, respectively, and removable
cotter pin means cooperating with corresponding openings contained
in the upper and lower extremities of said guide rods for
preventing vertical displacement of said guide rods relative to
said bracket means, respectively.
Description
SPECIFICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
An adapter arrangement is provided for connecting the front inlet
opening of a cold air distribution chute with the cold air
discharge opening of a refrigeration unit mounted in an opening
contained in the front wall of the body of a refrigeration vehicle,
characterized by the provision of means that permit the collapse of
the forward portion of the chute upon the application of an
upwardly directed force thereto, thereby to prevent tearing or
damage of the chute.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the prior art to provide distribution chutes
within the body of a refrigeration vehicle in order to circulate
cold air around the cargo that is to be refrigerated and which is
normally supported on pallets. Generally, the distribution chute is
flexible and is formed from a suitable impermeable synthetic
plastic material, a woven fabric material, or the like. One problem
that often occurs is the damage that is caused to the chute by the
cargo handlers, particularly during return runs of the
refrigeration vehicle when the loaders attempt to load a maximum
amount of dry nonrefrigerated goods into the refrigeration body by
the use of fork lift truck, especially adjacent the front wall of
the body. It became apparent, therefore, that there is a need for
an adapter for refrigeration air chutes which, if hit by the cargo.
would allow the air chute intake portion to be pushed up out of the
way of the cargo so that the chute head would not become
damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to
provide an adapter arrangement for connecting the inlet opening of
a cold air distribution chute with the discharge opening of a
front-wall-mounted refrigeration unit which allows the air chute
head to be pushed up out of the way when engaged by the cargo load,
and which will return automatically to its original condition for
the necessary air flow when the application of the load force is
removed.
According to a more specific object of the invention, the bottom
edge of the chute inlet opening is connected with a horizontal rod
or bar that is guided at its ends for vertical movement relative to
a pair of vertical guide rods that are mounted on brackets that are
fastened to the front wall on opposite sides of the refrigeration
unit discharge opening. Preferably, the ends of the rods are
connected with the guide rods by connecting members that are
telescopically slidably connected with the ends of the horizontal
rod, respectively. In this manner, upon the application of an
angularly upwardly directed force upon the chute, the horizontal
rod may be pivoted to an inclined position without locking up and
subsequently preventing return of the weighted rod to its original
horizontal position. The adapters may be combined with air chutes
and bulkheads for maximum air circulation and maximum load cooling
efficiency.
Another object of the invention is to provide an air chute adapter
which will permit twisting and turning while the horizontal rod is
going up and down. By making the rod of tubular configuration with
telescoping end connector members, the connectors are permitted to
telescope in and out as well as to be rotated the moment that there
is an resistance between the adapter and the vertical guide
rods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from a study of the following specification, when viewed in the
light of the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a partially broken away rear perspective view of a
refrigeration trailer with which the present invention is used;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating the manner in which
the refrigeration unit is connected with the front wall of a
refrigeration trailer;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of turn fastener means for connecting
the chute with the interior lower surface of the roof of the
refrigeration body;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are detailed perspective views illustrating the
manner in which the chute adapter means of the present invention is
operated from its normal condition to a collapsed condition upon
the application of an upwardly-directed vertical force thereto;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the chute adapter means of the
present invention;
FIGS. 7-11 illustrate the manner in which the adapter assembly is
used to connect to the chute inlet opening with the front wall of
the refrigeration body;
FIG. 12 illustrates the means by which the body portion of the
chute is connected with the roof or top wall of the refrigeration
body; and
FIGS. 13-15 illustrate the operation of the chute adapter means
upon the application of vertical and angularly applied forces,
respectively, to the lower surface of the forward end of the cold
air distribution chute.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring first more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
refrigeration trailer 2 includes a horizontal bottom wall or
platform 4, front and rear walls 6 and 8, a pair of side walls 10,
and a top wall or roof 12. As is known in the art, the front wall 6
contains an opening 14 for receiving the cold air evaporator 16 of
a refrigeration unit 18 that is mounted on the front wall 6. The
chute means of the present invention serves to distribute the cold
air throughout the articles of load L that are normally supported
by pallets or spacers P as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the cold air distribution chute 20 is
secured to the interior surface of the top wall 14 and extends
longitudinally of the refrigeration body 2. At its forward end
portion 20a, the chute contains an inlet opening 20b (FIG. 9) that
is connected with the interior surface of the front wall 6 by the
adapter means of the present invention. As will be explained in
greater detail below, in accordance with the present invention, the
forward end portion 20a of the chute 20 is designed to collapse
upwardly upon the application of an upwardly-directed vertical
force thereto, as shown in FIG. 5, and as will be explained in
greater detail below.
Referring to FIGS. 6-11, the adapter means 24 serves to connect the
inlet opening of the chute 20 with the interior surface of the
front wall 6 in circumferentially surrounding relation relative to
the refrigeration duct 16. The adapter means include a pair of
mounting brackets 26 that are fastened by a plurality of screws 28
with the front wall 6 of the refrigeration body.
As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting brackets 26 are formed from folded
sheet metal, such as aluminum or molded synthetic plastic material,
and include a pair of vertically spaced horizontal portions 26a
that contain vertically aligned openings 32 for slidably receiving
guide rods 34, respectively. The guide rods are provided at their
ends with stop washers 36 and cotter pins 38 that prevent vertical
movement of the guide rods 34 relative to the mounting brackets 26.
Arranged between the vertical guide rods 34 is a horizontal
weighted tubular rod 40. The weighted rod 40 is connected at each
end for sliding movement relative to the vertical guide rods 34 by
a pair of connecting members 42, respectively. Each connecting
member 42 includes a shank portion 42a that is telescopically
slidably mounted within the associated end of the tubular weight
rod 40, and at the other end with an eyelet portion 42b having an
opening that slidably receives the associated vertical guide rod
34. As shown in FIG. 11, the bottom end of the chute inlet opening
20b includes a reversely folded stitched seam 20c that defines a
longitudinal passage 46 that receives the weighted rod 40. Thus, as
will be described in greater detail below, upon vertical movement
of the horizontal rod 40 relative to the stationery vertical guide
means 34, the associated folded seam portion 20c of the chute inlet
opening 20b will be displaced vertically relative to the vehicle
front wall 6.
To assemble the chute to the interior surface of the refrigeration
body 2, the chute is arranged longitudinally on the platform bottom
wall 4 with the inlet opening end 20b adjacent the front wall 6,
whereupon the weighted rod 40 is inserted through the opening 46
defined by the folded seam 20c. The straight shank portions 42a of
the connecting members 42 are then inserted telescopically within
the ends of the weighted rod 40, and the guide rods 34 are inserted
upwardly through the opening in the eyelet portions 42b as shown in
FIG. 8. The guide rods 34 are fastened in place by the washers 36
and the cotter pin 38. Referring to FIG. 9, the upper inlet portion
of the forward portion 20a of the chute 20 is then lifted upwardly,
and the forward portion 20a is secured to the interior surface of
the top wall 14 by means of grommets 50 (FIG. 12) arranged in
longitudinally spaced relation to the chute 20, and screw fastener
means 52. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the chute could be
connected with the roof by conventional elliptical grommets 51 and
cooperating turn fasteners 53. The chute includes longitudinally
spaced discharge openings 20d (FIG. 10) for effecting the
distribution of the cold air among the load components L as shown
by the arrows in FIG. 3. The remainder of the chute is secured to
the roof by the turn fastener means of FIG. 3, or by the grommets
and the screw fasteners of FIG. 12.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 13-15, the adapter means of the
present invention is collapsible, thereby to protect the forward
portion 20a of the chute 20 by the load cargo. Quite often, the
pallets containing the load are elevated by fork lift trucks,
thereby to cause vertical engagement of the top of the load with
the bottom of the chute front portion 20a. In accordance with the
present invention, when the top surface of the load L engages the
bottom surface of the cover front portion 20a, the rod 40 is
displaced upwardly from its normal position of FIG. 13 relative to
the guide rods 34 toward the elevated position shown in FIGS. 5 and
14. Upon release of the upwardly directed force upon the under
surface of the chute forward portion 20a, the weighted rod 40 falls
by gravity toward its initial horizontal position of FIG. 13,
thereby returning the folded seam portion 20c to its initial
position beneath the refrigeration discharge opening 16a.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, in the
event that the upwardly-directed force is angularly applied to the
under surface of the forward portion 20a of the chute 20, owing to
the telescopic connection between the linear shank portions 42a of
the connecting members 42 and the hollow weight rod 40, one end of
the rod 40 may be displaced upwardly relative to the other end.
Thus, the connecting members 42 are telescopically connected for
independent operation relative to each other, thereby to permit the
tilted motion of the rod 40 without binding. Upon release of the
upwardly directed force from the chute forward portion 20a, owing
to the weight of the rod 40, the higher end of the rod will fall by
gravity toward the horizontal position of FIG. 13, with the
associated connecting member 42 being telescopically introduced
within the corresponding end of the weighted rod 40. Thus, the
adapter means 24 is operable upon the application of various
vertical forces to protect the chute against damage, and will
return to its initial position without binding of the horizontal
rod 40.
Preferably the chute is formed of an impermeable synthetic plastic
sheet or fabric, and the components of the adapter assembly are
formed of aluminum or other light weight material. Of course, the
horizontal rod may be formed of galvanized pipe, steel or the like
in order to increase the weight thereof.
While in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the
preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various changes and modifications may be made without
deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.
* * * * *